Pedal-accelerator for automobiles



E. H. ELLISON.

PEDAL ACCELERATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION man AUG-19.1919.

1,3 1,374, I Patented Dec. 7,1920;

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

awmwltoz E. H. ELLISON. PEDAL ACCELERATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-l9, 1919. I 1,361,374, Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

PEDAL-ACCELERATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

mea re.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1920.

Application filed August 19, 1919. Serial No. 318,508.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDXVARD'H. ELLIsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pedal-Accelerators for Automobiles, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The invention relates to foot or pedal accelerators as especially adapted for application to internal combustion engines in automobiles of the Ford type; and the invention consists in providing a two-piece pedal or foot actuating lever by means of which the foot board of the front compartment of the automobile may be readily re moved without disturbing the adjustment of the accelerator mechanism, the method of attachment to the engine being soarranged that no special skill is required in the installation of the accelerator mechanism, and the accelerator connective mechanism to the actuating lever of the carbureter is under positive control and will drop back to the idling or normal position when the foot is removed from the pedal, the accelerator mechanism being strong and durable and of simple construction so that it may be attached to the engine by amateurs; and the invention consists in the novel features and combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the accelerator mechanism attached to the engine, a portion of the engine top being broken away to show the connecting rods to the carbureter actuating lever, and from said carbureter lever to the steering column, and also a plan view of the twopiece hinged pedal or foot lever; and Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of said foot lever. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the entire accelerator mechanism on the same side -of the engine as the steering column. Fig. 4

is a sectional view at line 4-4 in Fig. 3

showing the construction and arrangement of the different parts of the accelerator mechanism.

Like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 10 designates the two-piece pedal, the two parts being designated by the numerals l1 and 12 which are united by screws at the lap joint 13. This arrangement perm ts the quick removal of the screws at said lap joint, thereby disconnecting the portion 11 of the pedal 10, and allowmg the removal of the floor board 14:, see

Fig. 3, without disturbing the adjustment of any of the remaining accelerator mechanism.

The part 12 of the pedal 10 is keyed to the shaft 15, which shaft is rotatively mounted in the bracket 16. The bracket 16 is designed to fit on to and be attached by the spaced bolts 17 upon the engine head plate 18 as is common to all Ford engines. These bolts are always in the same position, hence no skill is required in attaching this part of the accelerator mechanism to the engine since it cannot be installed other than correctly. The part 12 of the pedal 10 is provided with the stops 19 and 20 which limit the movement in both directions, that is, to the complete closure and full actuation of the carbureter and relieves the carbureter and accelerator mechanism of all strain.

The shaft 15, rotatively mounted in the bracket 16, extends sufliciently to one side to be in line with the bell crank lever 41 which is pivotally attached at 42 to the bracket plate 21. The bell crank lever 41 is connected to the shaft 15 by the arm 22 and link 23, said arm 22 being preferably connected to the link 23 by means of a tongue 24 with spring and pin attachment 25 so that the joint between the arm 22 and link 23 is given perfect freedom of action, yet is always tight preventing all rattling.

The opposite arm of the bell crank lever 41 is pivotally attached to the carburetor lever 26 by means of the adjustable length link 27 the link 27 having a screw cap end 28 to adjust the length of the same. The link 27 is preferably attached to the carbureter actuating lever 26 around the turned end of the horizontal link 29 which connects the actuating lever 26 to the steering column 30. The other end of the link 29 is con nected to the steering column 30 by means of the sleeve 31 and socket arm 32 which is attached around the operating rod 33 of the steering column 30, the link 29 being slidably mounted in the sleeve 31so that the carbureter lever 26 may be actuated by the pedal 10 as shown in Fig. 1 in dotted outline, the link 29 sliding backward and forward freely in the sleeve 31 without disturbing the hand lever control mechanism on the steering column in any way.

The shaft 15 also has the arm 34 keyed thereon and extending out therefrom sub-r draws downward on the arm 3 1- 'thereby re turning the pedal 10 and accelerator connective arm links and bell crank lever to their normal position when the pedal 10 is released and stop20 strikes against the bracket plate 16.

The foot rest for the pedal 10 preferably consists of a hinged semi-circular knurled or rubber coated. plate 36 which has the stops 37 and 3S therefor on the part 11 of the pedal 10. The foot rest plate 36 is preferably sufficiently broad as shown in Fig. 1 to receive the sole of the shoe of the cardriver thereon, and the hinged attachment to the end of the lever part 11 permits the pressure of the foot of the actuator to move with absolute exactness and pressure in accelerating the engine action. The difliculty which car drivers have experienced is that particularly in wet weather when the foot of the driver is shod with rubber, the common knurled or rubber coated pedal holds the sole of the shoe until it must move in order topermitthe lever to continue its downward movement, at which point it slips much farther than the car driver intends. This difficulty is entirely overcome by the hinged, double lugged plate-36 which sets astride the end of the lever 10 and moves from the normal nonaccelerating position to the full limit of acceleration for the engine with graduated pressure exactly in accord withthc drivcrs intention.

to the hinged foot plate 36 which presses downward on the pedal 10 gradually turnio as the pedal 10 moves downward. As the pedal 10 begins to move downward, it turns the shaft 15, thereby moving the arm 22 forward with the link 23 attached thereto, there byactuating the bell crank lever 19 and link 27 and thereby actuating lever 26 of the carbureterx39. As the actuating lever 26 moves toward the engine 1 in accelerating said or.-

gine by'ithe' pedal 10, the link29 of the hand control regular-1y furnished on Ford cars slides through the sleeve 31 thereby in no The limit of the accelerator.

wise affecting the parts of said hand control. lVith the slightest release of the pressure of the foot on the pedal plate 36, the spring 35 draws downward on the arm 34 and turns shaft 15 in the reverse direction, thereby returning all the parts in positive connection to one another and making the action of the accelerator absolutely positive in both direc tions.

The bracket plate 21 to which the loci crank lever tl-is pivotally attached and the coil spring 35, is the second attaching point for the accelerator mechanism to the engine 18 and is attached by the two bolts 4:0 which are regularly a part of the Ford engine, the position of which never change, and since the attachment of the entire accelerator mechanism is made through the two bolts 17 for the bracket plate 16 and 40 for the bracket plate 21, it is apparent as hereinbe fore stated that no skill is required in installing the accelerator mechanism in perfeet alinement so that the adjustment of the mechanism is also reduced to merely tightening the parts and the amateur or mechanic who is not familiar with the mecha nism cannot make a mistake. The perfect alinement is, of course, absolutely essential to the accurate operation of the accelerator mechanism, and the manner of attachment of the two plates 16 and 21 insures this perfect alinement. The pedal 10 is preferably located at the right hand side of the brake pedal.

r The segment shaped pivoted pedal plate 36 permits the downward bend of the part 11 of the foot pedal in fairly close proximity to the removable floor board 14: so that the toe of the operator as his heel rests on said floor board 14 is not raised at too high an angle, thereby tiring the operators foot on account of the tension of holding the foot at such an acute angle, and at the same time the lower pedal pressure more positive than when said pedal is placed at a greater distance from the floor board. It is apparent that a roller might be used in place of the segmental pivoted foot rest 36, but this would necessitate the higher placingiof the pedal end, and the consequent tension and tiring for the foot as stated. The present arrangement of the segmental foot rest 36 attains all the purposes of a roller with the lower pedal pressure angle as stated.

It will be noted also that the pedal 10 with its pivotal attachment to the bracket 16 by'the rod 15 and its steps 19 and'20 as a limitation of the upward and downward movement of said pedal 10 inits-acceleration of the engine and its attachment to the engine top 18 by theregular engine bolts 17 is aself-inclusive mechanism. The two limitation stops .19 and 20' contact on the bracket 16 and are self-adjusted so that when assembled, the bracket 16 and pedal 10 with its attached mechanism may be attached to the engine 18 by the bolts 17 without danger of incorrect placement on the engine or wrong action for the accelerating movement for said engine. The bracket plate 16 is attached to the top of the engine 18 resting thereon upon the bosses 16 for each of the bolts 17, the holes for said bolts extending through said bosses 16 and the connective portion of the plate 16 being thereby a spaced distance above the engine top 18 to insure the accurate leveling of the plate 16. This arrangement also permits the. correct fitting or adjustment of the stops 19 and 20 to the raised portion of the plate 16 which connects the bosses 16.

The attachment also of the bracket plate 21 by the two bolts 40 renders the attachment of said bracket plate absolutely exact. If the bracket plate 21 were attached by one of the bolts 10, it could vary by turning on said bolt, indeed the tightening of the bolt might shift the position of said bracket and render the accelerator mechanism incapable of correct action and attachment. The two pairs of bolts 17 and 40 entirely overcome this difliculty so that an amateur can at tach the mechanism without danger of makin a mistake.

The connection of the arm 34% to the accurately placed bracket. 21 by the spring 35 not only serves to raise the lever 10, but also serves to bring the accelerator mechanism back to the normal idling position when foot pressure is removed from the pedal. Owing to the location and tension of the spring 35 upon the accelerator mechanism and to the return stop 20 on the pedal, there is a tension on all the regular parts of the accelerator mechanism preventing them from rattling when in said normal idling position. The operation of the spring pedal 10 puts a tension on the spring 35 and not a compression. Although the spring 35 is fairly strong and accomplishes the above described objects, the operation of the hand lever on the steering column is not in any way interfered with, remaining in any position placed by the operator.

I claim new:

1. In a motor vehicle, in combination with the engine thereof and the removable floor board thereover, a two-piece foot pedal for the engine accelerator pivotally mounted on said engine, means at the forward edge of the floor board for limiting the depres sion of tie innerpiece of said lever to prevent contact of the latter with said floor board, and means removably connecting the lever pieces together in juxtaposition to the forward edge of said floor board.

2. In a motor vehicle incombination with the engine thereof, accelerator mechanism therefor comprising a bracket rigidly attached to said engine, a pedal pivotally at tached on said bracket, stops on said pedal to limit the upward and downward movement of said pedal, and a spring to automatically return said pedal to its normally raised position.

8. In a motor vehicle in combination with the engine thereof, accelerator mechanism therefor comprising a bracket rigidly attached to said engine by the regular bolts thereon, a pedal pivotally attached on said bracket, and stops on said pedal to limit the upward and downward movement of said pedal and the consequent acceleration of said engine.

4. In a motor vehicle in combination with the engine thereof, accelerator mechanism therefor comprising a bracket rigidly attached to said engine by two of the regular bolts thereon, a pedal pivotally attached on said bracket, stops on said pedal contactin g on said bracket to limit the upward and downward movement of said pedal and the consequent acceleration of said engine, an arm extension from said pivotal attachment of said pedal on said bracket, and a spring attachment from said arm to said engine to automatically return said pedal to its normally raised position.

5. In a motor vehicle in combination with the engine thereof, accelerator mechanism therefor comprising a bracket rigidly at tached to said engine by two of the regular bolts thereon, a pedal pivotally attached by a rod on said bracket, stops on said pedal contacting on said bracket to limit the upward and downward movement of said pedal and the consequent acceleration of said engine, a second bracket plate attached to the side of said engine by two of the regular bolts thereon, an arm extension from said pivotally attached pedal rod on said bracket, and spring connection between the end of said arm and said second bracket to give tension to said accelerator mechanism and return said pedal to its normally raised position.

6. In a motor vehicle in combination with the engine thereof, accelerator mechanism therefor comprising a bracket rigidly attached to said engine by the regular bolts thereon, a pedal pivotally attached by a rod on said bracket, stops on said pedal contacting on said bracket to limit the upward and downward movement of said pedal and consequent acceleration' of said engine, a second bracket attached to the side of said engine by a pair of the regular bolts thereon, an arm extension from said pivotal rod attachment of said pedal on said bracket, spring connection between said arm extension and said second bracket to return said pedal to a normally raised position, a second arm rigidly attached to said pivotal rod mount ing for said pedal at an angle to said arm extension of said pedal, a bell crank pivotally attached to said second bracket, link connection between said second arm and one arm of said bell crank, and link connection between the other arm of said bell crank and the actuating arm of the carbureter for said engine.

7. In a motor vehicle in combination with the engine thereof, accelerator mechanism therefor. comprising a bracket rigidly attached to said engine by the regular bolts thereon, a pedal pivotally attached by a rod on said bracket, stops on said pedal contacting on said bracket to limit the upward and downward movement of said pedal and the consequent acceleration of said engine, a second bracket attached to the side of said engine by two of the regular bolts thereon, an arm extension from said pivotal rod attachment of said pedal on said bracket, spring connection between the end portion of said arm and said second bracket to return said pedal to a normally raised position and give tension to said accelerator, at second arm rigidly attached to said pivotal rod mounting for said pedal at an angle to said arm extension of said pedal rod, a bell crank pivotally attached to said second bracket, link connection between said second arm and one arm of said bell crank, link connection between the other arm of said bell crank and the actuating arm of the carbureter for said engine,-and aslide link connection between said. actuating arm of said'carbureter and the steering post mechanism of the automobile to permit the acceleration of said engine by either hand or foot. V V r 8. In a motor vehicle in combination with the engine thereof, accelerator mechanism 1 0 therefor comprising a bracketrigidly attached to said engine, a pedal pivotally attached by a rod on said bracket, stops on said pedal to limit the upward and downward movement of the same, an arm rigidly attached to said rod to be turned thereby, a carbureter connected to said engine, link connection between said arm and said carbureter to actuate the same, and a spring connected to said mechanism to return said pedal to a normally raised position and give tension thereto. c

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDVVARD H. ELLISON.

lVitnesses V C. V. SwANsoN, HAROLD FORSBERG. 

